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This new discovery could allow dentists to regenerate the roots of teeth

Yang Chai and fellow researchers at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC have discovered how genes for the roots of teeth turn on and off, a key step on the path to someday regrowing the teeth themselves.

USC expert Yang Chai‘s research could lead to someday activating the proteins that would make teeth regrow. (Photo/Shutterstock)

To figure out how the body changes over time, researchers are increasingly looking to understand epigenetics, the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself. This scientific endeavor extends to teeth as well.

Yang Chai, associate dean of research at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, reported in a recent article how he and colleagues discovered that epigenetic regulation can control tooth root patterning and development.

“This is an aspect that doesn’t involve change in the DNA sequence, but it’s basically through the control where you make the genes available or unavailable for transcription, which can determine the pattern,” he explained.

A protein called Ezh2 helps the bones of the face to develop, but it was not known how it affects tooth root development, the authors wrote. So the team looked at what happens when Ezh2 is not present in the molar teeth of developing mice. They found that Ezh2 and another protein called Arid1a must be in balance to establish the tooth root pattern and the proper integration of roots with the jaw bones.

The goal: To someday regrow teeth, first regenerate the roots

Yang Chai says that changes in our diet and environment affect how our bodies regulate our genes, which is evident in the difference between the formation of our teeth and those of ancient humans. (Photo/Phil Channing)

Chai said the new work is motivating: “I feel excited about this because, through human evolution, there have been changes in our diet and environment that can influence our epigenome — the ways our genes are regulated – and you can clearly see a difference between the root formation of our dentition versus Neanderthals.”

Neanderthal molars have longer root trunks than the ones seen in anatomically modern humans and show late splitting of the roots, which could be due to the effect of diet and exercise on the proteins that turn the genes on and off.

The balance of regulators also has a hand in disease and wellness. In different types of cancer, research has shown that the balance of two opposing epigenetic regulators is quite important. Knocking out one regulator can create cancer, Chai said, but modulating its opposing regulator can stop the cancer.

“These epigenetic regulators, which are not changing the DNA sequences, are important in themselves, but their level of their activity is also important,” he said. “Basically, you can’t have too much or too little — if the balance is off track, then you get developmental problems or disease.”

The ultimate goal of Chai’s research on the regulation of tooth development is to regrow teeth — but generating an entire tooth is very challenging because it takes a long time for nature to build a tooth from development to eruption, Chai explained. So he aims to find ways to regenerate a molar root, and put a crown on top.

“It would be the best of both worlds: a natural integration of the root with the jawbone with the periodontal ligament in place, and a reduction in the amount of time we need by using just a crown to restore function,” he said.